California Construction News staff writer
Nibbi has received Notice to Proceed on a new affordable housing community for St. Paul AME Berkeley, with Lowney Architecture leading the design.
The seven-storey project will deliver 50 affordable family homes along with supportive services and shared community amenities, including dedicated space for the adjacent St. Paul AME Berkeley church.
Known as St. Paul Terrace, the development is planned as a mixed-use residential and community building featuring five levels of wood-frame construction over a two-storey concrete podium and one basement level. The structural system will consist of Type V-A wood framing above Type I-A concrete podium construction.
Project plans include ground-floor and basement common areas that will serve both residents and the church. Residential amenities will include offices, meeting rooms, flexible community spaces, bike storage, and a shared courtyard deck with a play structure.
Church-related facilities integrated into the building design will include offices, meeting rooms, a kitchen, and supporting program space intended to expand the congregation’s community services.
The project also includes podium-level parking for residents, staff, and church users. The building will be fully electric and incorporate rooftop solar photovoltaic panels. It is being designed to achieve a GreenPoint Rated Gold certification.
Accessibility is a central design feature, with fully accessible common areas and adaptable residential units intended to support full accessibility over time. The design emphasizes durable, high-quality materials and a modern, efficient building envelope.
Once complete, St. Paul Terrace will provide permanently affordable housing alongside shared community and faith-based spaces in a single integrated development, expanding both residential capacity and neighborhood-serving amenities on the site.
